MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

Lesson title: BASIC IMAGING TECHNIQUES (PART 1) Materials:

Learning Targets:
At the end of the module, students will be able to:
1. Describe the significance of the presented basic imaging
techniques in this session;
2. Analyze the imaging differences of each techniques; and,
3. Differentiate these basic imaging techniques with its
advantages and disadvantages.
Electronic gadget, pen, & notebook
References:
Hornak, J. P. (2020). The basics of MRI.
https://www.cis.rit.edu/htbooks/mri/inside.htm
Sprawls, P. (n.d.). Spatial characteristics of
the magnetic resonance image.
http://www.sprawls.org/mripmt/MRI09/index.ht
ml

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW

Let us have a quick review of what you have learned from the previous session. Kindly answer the posted task/question
on the space provided. You may use the back page of this sheet, if necessary.

Describe how the pulse sequences work in MRI scanning.

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B. MAIN LESSON

This lesson covers the first part of the basic imaging techniques: gradient-echo imaging, multi-slice imaging, and volume
imaging (3D imaging).

GRADIENT-ECHO IMAGING

 Gradient echo sequences (GRE) are an alternative technique to spin-echo sequences, differing from it in two
principal points:
o utilization of gradient fields to generate transverse magnetization
- its actual decay is due to several factors: spin-spin tissue-specific relaxation (T2) which is random,
and B0 field inhomogeneities and magnetic susceptibility, which are static
o flip angles of less than 90°
- known as partial flip angle, decreases the amount of magnetization tipped into transverse plane
- the consequence of a low-flip angle excitation is a faster recovery of longitudinal magnetization
that allows shorter TR/TE and decreases scan time
- advantages: faster acquisitions, new contrasts between tissues and a stronger MR signal in case
of short TR
 Compared to the spin-echo and inversion recovery sequences, gradient echo sequences are more versatile.

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 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

 Not only is the basic sequence varied by adding

dephasing or rephasing gradients at the end of
the sequence, but there is a significant extra
variable to specify in addition to the usual TR
and TE.
o This variable is the flip or tip angle of
the spins.
 If the 90-FID (free induction decay) imaging
sequence presented, it would record only half of
k-space.
o It is likely to produce the equivalent of
an echo in the center of acquisition
window when the frequency encoding
gradient is turned on.
o This would give both the left and right
halves of k-space.
o To achieve, it is a need to turn on a
wind-up gradient, as it is called, in the
frequency encoding direction.
 This RF pulse typically produces a rotation
angle of between 0 and 90°, although a 0° rotation is not of much use because it produces no signal; a slice
selection gradient is applied with the RF pulse.
 A phase encoding gradient is applied next.
o The phase encoding gradient is varied between GΦm and -GΦm in 128 or 256 equal steps as was done in
all the other sequences.
 A dephasing frequency encoding gradient is applied at the same time as the phase encoding gradient so as to
cause the spins to be in phase at the center of the acquisition period.
o This gradient is negative in sign from that of the frequency encoding gradient turned on during the
acquisition of the signal.
 An echo is produced when the frequency encoding gradient is turned on because this gradient refocuses the
dephasing which occurred from the dephasing gradient.
 The reversal of the gradient is responsible for the echo.
 To confuse this type of echo with one produced by a 180° pulse, this echo is called a gradient echo.
 A period called echo time (TE) is defined as time between the start of RF pulse and the maximum in the signal.
o The sequence is repeated every TR seconds.
o The signal from a gradient-echo sequence is as follows.

 Imaging with a gradient-echo sequence is intrinsically more sensitive to magnetic field inhomogeneities because
of the use of the refocusing gradient or wind-up gradient.
 The goal of this dephasing gradient is to obtain an echo when the readout gradient is applied and the data are
acquired.
o The dephasing stage of the readout gradient is in the inverse sign of the readout gradient during data
acquisition. Moreover, its dephasing effect is designed so that it corresponds to half of the dephasing
effect of the readout gradient during data acquisition.

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 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

o Consequently, during data acquisition, the readout gradient will rephase the spins in the first half of the
readout (by reversing the dephasing effect of the dephasing lobe), and the spins will dephase in the
second half (due to the dephasing effect of the readout gradient).
o The time during which the peak signal is obtained is called Echo Time (TE).

 Steady State:
o In gradient echo, TR reduction may cause permanent residual transverse magnetization in TR below T2:
the transverse magnetization will not have completely disappeared at the onset of the following repetition
and will also be submitted to the flip caused by the excitation pulse.
o Two main classes of gradient echo sequence can be distinguished, depending on how residual
transverse magnetization is managed:
1. gradient echo sequences with spoiled residual transverse magnetization
2. steady state gradient echo sequences that conserve residual transverse magnetization and
therefore participate in the signal

 GRE Phase Sequences:

1. Steady-State Free Precession (SSFP)
- maintenance of a steady, residual transverse magnetization over successive cycles
- clinical distinction: creation of cardiac MRI videos
2. Effective T 2 (T 2*)
- spoiled GRE with a long echo time and small flip angle
- clinical distinction: low signal from hemosiderin deposits & hemorrhages
3. Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI)
- spoiled GRE, fully flow compensated, long TE, combines phase image with magnitude image
- clinical distinction: detecting small amounts of hemorrhage or calcium deposits

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 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

 Image Characteristics:
o Images from other GRE sequences such as GRASS (Gradient Recalled Acquisition in Steady State) and
FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady state Precession) have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than
FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot).
o The FLASH and SPGR (Spoiled Gradient-Recalled)
sequences show better tissue contrast between white
matter and grey matter in the brain and spinal cord than
GRASS or FISP and are preferred when the time of
acquisition does not have to be very short.
o GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio
(SNR) than FLASH at short TR times and are therefore
preferred with breath-holding techniques, for example.
o Note that the spins are refocused by reversing the
direction of the spins rather than flipping them over to
the other side of the x-y plane as occurs with the spin-
echo sequence.
o Gradient refocusing of the spins takes considerably less
time than 180˚ RF pulse refocusing.
o Magnetic susceptibility artifacts are therefore more
pronounced on GRE sequences that on spin-echo
sequences.
o One big disadvantage of GRE sequences is the loss of
signal from static magnetic field inhomogeneity.
- This occurs to a lesser degree with spin-echo
sequences (and for a different reason).

MULTI-SLICE IMAGING

 This is the default mode on MRI scanner because it allows a volume of anatomy to be imaged in shortest time.
 In most clinical applications, it is desirable to have a series of images (slices) covering a specific anatomical
region; by using the multi-slice mode, an entire set of images can be acquired simultaneously.

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 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

 There are several acquisition schemes for multi-slice

sequences:
o interleaved: a set of contiguous or n skip m
slices can be acquired sequentially in an
interleaved fashion
- sequentially means we acquire the
slices in order (1, 2, 3, ...) while
interleaved means we do not acquire
adjacent slices simultaneously (e.g.
1,5,10,…)
o contiguous: consider a set of 3 mm slices
placed one next to another so that 10 slices
exactly span 30 mm
o n skip m: if we position 4 slices evenly
spaced in the same 30 mm, it is applying a 4
skip 2 acquisition

 Interleaved acquisitions are preferable because RF pulses and hence slices are not perfect.
 An RF pulse can rotate spins adjacent to the desired slice location by a lesser amount.
o This changes the effective TR of a sequence and hence, the contrast.

 Multi-slice imaging is an imaging technique in which the repetition period (TR) is utilized for acquiring additional
slices in other layers or planes, in differentiation for 2D techniques where every repetition period is used for single
slice; the maximum number of slices of a pulse sequence depends on the repetition time.
 The slices are separated by applying the RF pulses and detecting the signals from the different slices at different
times, in sequence, during each imaging cycle.
 When the slice selection gradient is turned on, each slice is tuned to a different resonant frequency.
o A specific slice can be selected for excitation by adjusting the RF pulse frequency to correspond to the
resonant frequency of that slice.
o The process begins by applying an excitation pulse to one slice and collecting the echo signal.
o Then, while that slice undergoes longitudinal relaxation before the next cycle can begin, the excitation
pulse frequency is shifted to excite another slice.

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 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

o This process is repeated to excite and collect signals from the entire set of slices at slightly different times
within one TR interval.
 The advantage of multi-slice imaging is that a set of slices can be imaged in the same time as a single slice.
 The principal factor that limits the number of slices is the value of TR.
o It takes a certain amount of time to excite and then collect the signals from each slice.
o The maximum number of slices is the TR value divided by the time required for each slice.
o This limitation is especially significant for T1-weighted images that use relatively short TR values.
 A factor to consider when selecting the slicing mode is that multiple slice selective excitations cannot produce the
contiguous slices that the volume acquisition technique can.
o With selective excitation, there is the possibility that when an RF excitation/saturation pulse is applied to
one slice of tissue, it will also produce some effect in an adjacent slice.
o This is a reason for leaving gaps between slices during the acquisition.

VOLUME IMAGING (3D IMAGING)

 This imaging is the acquisition of magnetic resonance

data from a volume rather than a single tomographic
slice.
 It can be thought of as collecting several contiguous
slices through a region of imaged object; the number
of contiguous slices will always be a multiple of 2.
 There is a volume selection RF pulse & gradient
which rotates only those spins in imaged volume of
the object.
o This combination of pulses is equivalent to a
slice selection combination except the slice
thickness can be 10 or 20 cm.

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 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

o The volume selection pulses are followed by a phase encoding gradient in dimension one and another
one in dimension two.
o Each is varied between a maximum & minimum value, just as all phase encoding gradients have been.
o The two gradient pulses are applied at the same time and are cycled through all possible combinations.
o The frequency encoding gradient has its dephasing negative lobe to cause the spins to be in phase at the
center of the acquisition window.
o The frequency encoding gradient is applied and a signal recorded, just as it has been in all the previous
sequences.

 The imaging time is equal to the product of the TR value times the number of phase encoding steps in dimension
1 times the number of steps in dimension 2.
o Because of this large value, a gradient recalled echo sequence is typically used for volume imaging.
o The resolution in the direction corresponding to the slice direction in a 2D sequence can be much less in
a volume imaging sequence than in a tomographic sequence.
o Therefore, volume acquisition sequences are often used when the desired resolution in the corresponding
slice direction is less than ~2 mm; it is also used when isotropic voxels are desired.

 3D image acquisition has the advantage of being able to produce thinner and more contiguous slices.
o This is because of the process used to slice the tissue; rather than producing each slice during the
acquisition phase, the slicing is done during reconstruction phase using the process of phase-encoding.
o With this method, no gradient is present when the RF pulse is applied to the tissue.
o Since all tissue within an anatomical region, such as the head, is tuned to the same resonant frequency,
all tissues are excited simultaneously.
o The next step is to apply a phase-encoding gradient in the slice selection direction.

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

 In volume imaging, phase-encoding is used to create the slices in addition to creating the voxel rows.
o The phase-encoding gradient used to define the slices must be stepped through different values,
corresponding to the number of slices to be created.
o At each gradient setting, a complete set of imaging cycles must be executed.
o Therefore, the total number of cycles required in one acquisition is multiplied by the number of slices to
be produced.
o This has the disadvantage of causing 3D volume acquisitions to have a relatively long acquisition time
compared to 2D multiple slice acquisitions (this is why this type of acquisition is often used with one of the
faster imaging methods).
 The primary advantage of volume imaging is that the phase-encoding process can generally produce thinner and
more contiguous slices than the selective excitation process used in 2-D slice acquisition.
 The primary disadvantage is longer acquisition times.

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 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

Check for Understanding

After studying the main lesson, you may now answer the following multiple choice questions and provide the rationale for
each item.

1. This decreases the amount of magnetization tipped into transverse plane for GRE sequences.
a. Transverse Magnetization
b. Free Induction Decay
c. Radiofrequency pulse
d. Flip Angles
Answer: ________
Rationale:
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2. Which of the following is true about the goals and principles of dephasing gradient?
a. This is to inverse the sign of the readout gradient during data acquisition.
b. This is to rephase the spins in the first half of the readout.
c. This is to obtain an echo when the readout gradient is applied.
d. This is to correspond to half of the dephasing effect of the readout gradient during data acquisition.
Answer: ________
Rationale:
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3. In GRE phase sequences, its physics is focused to the maintenance of a steady, residual transverse magnetization
over successive cycles.
a. SSFP
b. T2*
c. SWI
d. TR
Answer: ________
Rationale:
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4. All of the following is true to the image characteristics of GRE imaging, except:
a. Images from GRASS and FISP have less intuitive tissue contrast characteristics than FLASH.
b. The GRASS and FISP sequences show better tissue contrast between white matter and grey matter in the
brain and spinal cord than FLASH and SPGR.
c. The FLASH and SPGR sequences are preferred when the time of acquisition does not have to be very short.
d. GRASS and FISP maintain better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FLASH at short TR times.
Answer: ________
Rationale:
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This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Module #11 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ___________________________________ Date: _______________

5. This is an imaging technique in which the repetition period is utilized for acquiring additional slices in other layers or
planes, in differentiation for 2D techniques where every repetition period is used for single slice.
a. Gradient-Echo Imaging
b. Multi-slice imaging
c. Volume Imaging
d. 3D Imaging
Answer: ________
Rationale:
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C. LESSON WRAP-UP

Thinking about Learning

CAT: MUDDIEST POINT

This technique will help you determine which key points have been missed in the main lesson:

In today’s session, what was least clear to you?

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